Irrigation solution administration system and reservoir therefor

ABSTRACT

An irrigating solution administration system including a reservoir positioned for parallel flow of fluid from the solution container and the reservoir to the instrument being used is provided. The reservoir is placed in-line with the tubing connecting the solution container and instrument by means of a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Y&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; type connector, for example. The reservoir assists in maintaining a constant pressure head, particularly when the reservoir comprises a flexible pouch, and increases the flow rate of fluid to the instrument.

United States Patent Chittenden et al.

IRRIGATION SOLUTION ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM AND RESERVOIR THEREFORInventors: Richard Marion Chittenden,

Grayslake; Earl David Wilson, Ingleside, both of I11.

Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, 111.

Filed: May 5, 1971 Appl. N0.: 140,407

Assignee:

US. Cl. 128/227, 128/214 R, 128/DIG. 24 Int. Cl A6lm 3/00 [58] Field ofSearch 1 128/214 R, 214 C, 128/2142, 227, DIG. 24

[56] References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,217,711 11/1965 Pecinaet a]. 128/214 C [451 Sept. 4, 1973 3,177,870 4/1965 Salem 128/21422,210,098 8/1940 Ravenscroft 128/214 R Primary Examiner--Lawrence W.Trapp AttorneyR0bert L. Niblack [57] ABSTRACT An irrigating solutionadministration system including a reservoir positioned for parallel flowof fluid from the solution container and the reservoir to the instrumentbeing used is provided. The reservoir is placed in-line with the tubingconnecting the solution container and instrument by means of a Y" typeconnector, for example. The reservoir assists in maintaining a constantpressure head, particularly when the reservoir comprises a flexiblepouch, and increases the flow rate 0 fluid to the instrument.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures mm 4 ms 3.156287 MI 1 N 2 RichardM.Chiftenden 4 Earl 0.001 150! Inventors IRRIGATION SOLUTIONADMINISTRATION SYSTEM AND RESERVOIR THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIrrigating solutions are used for prophylaxis, treatment, and otherspecial purposes including surgical irrigation such as for example, toirrigate or bathe body tissues, organs and wounds. Specific proceduresare irrigation of the bladder for cystocopy and during and followingurologic surgery; tidal irrigation of the bladder in paraplegic orquadriplegic patients; all types of irrigation of wounds to cleansethem, from rinsing a simple abrasion to removing surgical debris byirrigation, and to treat infection locally as an ancillary to a systemicadministration of antibacterial agents. In some procedures, such asduring transurethral prostatic resection (TUR), debris must constantlybe washed from the operative field requiring relatively large quantitiesof irrigating solutions and a relatively constant and continuous flow.Accordingly, present systems employ a plurality of solution containersarranged in series for example, and attached to an instrument withflexible tubing forthe'flow of fluid therethrough. With such a system,as onecontainer is emptied it can be replaced while flow continuesthrough a second container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises an irrigatingsystem which includes a reservoir positioned for parallel flow of fluidfrom the solution container and the reservoir to the instrument beingused and the patient. Preferably, the reservoir comprises a flexiblepouch having a common inlet and outlet for flow of fluid into and out ofthe pouch and positioned in-line with the tubing connecting the solutioncontainer and instrument by means of a Y connector, for example. Thereservoir assists in maintaining a constant pressure head, particularlywhen the reservoir comprises a flexible pouch, and increases the flowrate of fluid to the instrument. Before irrigation is begun, theflexible pouch is filled with fluid. By use of a Y" connector positionedat the bottom of the flexible pouch, flow can proceed directly from thesolution container to the instrument being used through tubing connectedbetween the solution container and one leg of the Y" connector, throughthe common leg of the Y connector and thence through tubing to theinstrument. Since the flexible pouch is connected to the other leg ofthe Y" connector, under certain conditions, flow can also proceed fromthe flexible pouch directly to the instrument. The flexible'pouchassists in maintaining a constant pressure head because when theeffective head drops in the solution container, flow will begin from thepouch. Being flexible, internal and external forces such as surfacetension and atmospheric pressure will act on the pouch to increase theflow of irrigating solution so that a greater flow will result with agiven static head. The flexible pouch also acts as a reservoir in theevent of an emergency wherein for any reason, flow from the irrigatingsolution container is interrupted. In a transurethral prostaticresection procedure for example, the pouch can be made to contain enoughsolution for three changes of the bladder, i.e., about 1200 millilitersof solution. By filling the reservoir to a desired volume and thenclosing off the flow of fluid from the container; a measured volume ofsolution can be administered.

DRAWINGS The invention can be better understood with refer ence to thefollowing'drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an irrigating system employing two solutioncontainers arranged in series and including a reservoir comprising aflexible in-line pouch.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view partially in crosssection taken alongthe lines 2--2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating one method of maintaining thein-line pouch in a vertical position during an irrigating procedure.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partially in .crosssectionillustrating the exit port of the in-line pouch.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an irrigating system employing anin-line flexible pouch and in which the solution containers are arrangedfor parallel flow of fluid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement of a system inwhich the solution containers are arranged for series flow of fluid andincluding. a flexible pouch positioned in-line with the tubing. Thesystem 10 as illustrated includes two solution containers or bottles ll,12 having a bail bandor hanger 13, 14 positioned on the bottom thereofin order to facilitate hanging of the container during use, as shown.Attached to the mouth oropening of the containers l1, 12 are caps 15, 16which include an exit port 17, 18 and an air vent or secondary port 19,20 to which can be attached either a tubing adaptor 22 or air filter 23.In the system illustrated, a section of tubing 21 provides a pathway forfluid from the container 12 to the container 11 and is attached to theport 19 of the container 11 by means of a tubing adaptor 22 which isaffixed to the tubing 21. The other end of the tubing 21 is sealed influid-tight engagement with the exit port 18 of the container 12. An airfilter 23 is attached to the port 20 of the container 12 to permit theentry of filtered air as the fluid empties from the container 12. Aclamp 24 is positioned on the tubing 21 to control the flow of fluidbetween the containers ll, 12. A section of tubing 25 is sealed in afluid-tight relationship with the exit port 17 of the first or primarysolution container 11 and provides a flow path for the fluid through theY" manifold 26 and the tubing 30 to the instrument being employed or thepatient. The Y manifold 26 includes two legs 27', 28 one of which 27 isaffixed in fluid-tight relationship with the tubing 25 in communicationwith the primary container 11. The single or common leg 29 is attachedin fluid-tight relationship withthe tubing 30 the other end of whichincludes an adaptor 31 to which is affixed a short segment 32 of tubing.The open end of the tubing 32 can be attached to an appropriateinstrument and prior to use is covered by a hood 33. A flexible pouch 40fabricated in a conventional manner from lay flat tubing material suchas flexible polyvinylchloride is positioned in-line with the tubing 25.The pouch is sealed around itsedges 41 and includes an exit port 42which is in fluid-tight relationship with the interior of the pouch andthe one leg 28 of the Y" manifold 26. To maintain the pouch 40 in avertical position during use, a flap 43 extends from the end of thepouch 40 away from the exit port 42 and includes two openings 44, 45through which the tubing 25 attached to the cap is threaded prior tosealing to the Y manifold 26. If desired, instead of using a manifoldconnector as described, the

tubing leading from the solution container or containers can be sealeddirectly into the bottom of the reservoir 40 as is the exit port 42.

To use the system, caps 15, 16 and attendent tubing, flexible pouch andinstrument (not shown) are attached to the irrigating solutioncontainers l1, 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1. By means of the clamp 34,the tubing 30 at the bottom of the pouch 40 is closed off and the clamps24 and 35 which control the flow of fluid from the containers 1 1, 12are opened. This permits the flexible pouch 40 to fill with fluid afterwhich the clamp 34 is released permitting fluid to flow through thesystem and into the instrument. In the system as illustrated, fluidflows in series from the secondary container 12 through the exit port 18of the cap 16 into the tubing 21 and thence through the port 19 of thecap and into the primary solution container 11. The fluid then flowsfrom the primary container 11 through the exit port 17 of the cap 15 andinto the tubing 25 and to the instrument as previously explained. It isapparent that the secondary container 12 will empty first at which timeit can be replaced while flow continues from the primary container 11.As'the dynamic head at the Y manifold 26 drops due to fluid flow, flowwill begin from the flexible pouch 40. The fluid will flow through theexit port 42 into the leg 28 of the Y connector 26 and thence into thetubing 30 to the instrument being used. In this fashion, the flexiblepouch acts to maintain a constant dynamic head in the system. The pouch40 also acts as a reservoir in the event both containers 1], 12 shouldempty or flow be prevented for any reason. Being flexible, the pouch 40also acts to increase flow because of the action of internal andexternal forces such as surface tension and atmospheric pressure on thepouch 40. Accordingly, greater flow can be obtained with a decreasedstatic head and an attendant reduced pressure at the instrument.

FIG. 4 illustrates a system in which the solution containers arearranged for parallel flow of the fluid and including a flexible pouchpositioned in-line with the tubing. With this type of arrangement, flowof fluid normally proceeds simultaneously from both containers. Withthis arrangement, flow is increased somewhat in comparison to thearrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 since with that arrangement, flow mustproceed from the secondary container to the primary container,

through ports in the cap and thence through the tubing to theinstrument. As with the system 10, illustrated in FIG. 1, this system 50includes two solution containers or bottles 11, 12 suspended from ahanger 51 by means of a bail-band or hanger 13, 14 attached to thebottom of the bottle. A cap 15, 16 is attached to the mouth of thecontainer as previously described. In this arrangement, the flexiblepouch 40 includes an extending flap 43 from which the pouch 40 issuspended from the hanger 51 by means of a cord 54. Again, the pouch 40is sealed around its edges 41 and includes an exit port 42 which is influid-tight relationship with the interior of the pouch 40 and a Y"manifold 55. One leg 56 of the manifold is attached to tubing 57 leadingto the instrument being used (not shown). The other leg 58 of the Ymanifold 55 is connected to a second Y" manifold 59, one leg 60 of whichis attached to the tubing 52 leading to the first solution container 11and the other leg 61 is attached to the tubing 53 leading to the secondsolution container 12. Clamps 62, 63, 64 are positioned on the tubing tocontrol the flow therein. The tubing 57 includes an adaptor 65 on itsend distal from the pouch 40 engageable with a corresponding adaptor 66on a section of tubing 67 the other end of which also includes anadaptor 31 engageable with a short segment 32 of tubing for ultimateconnection to an instrument (not shown).

What is claimed is:

l. A reservoir for use with apparatus for the administration of fluid insurgical procedures, said reservoir comprising: a flexible pouch sealedabout the edges thereof and having a port at the bottom thereof for theentry and exit of fluid; a first manifold connector in fluid tightengagement with said port; a second manifold connector sealed in fluidtight relationship with said first manifold, said second manifoldconnector having tubing sealed in fluid tight relationship therewith,the other end of said tubing having means thereon for fluid tightengagement with the interior of a fluid container; and a second tubingsealed in fluid tight relationship with the first manifold'connector forflow of fluid therefrom, the other end of said tubing being engageablewith an instrument to be used in the procedure, whereby fluid can flowin parallel from both the reservoir and the fluid container to theinstrument.

1. A reservoir for use with apparatus for the administration of fluid insurgical procedures, said reservoir comprising: a flexible pouch sealedabout the edges thereof and having a port at the bottom thereof for theentry and exit of fluid; a first manifold connector in fluid tightengagement with said port; a second manifold connector sealed in fluidtight relationship with said first manifold, said second manifoldconnector having tubing sealed in fluid tight relationship therewith,the other end of said tubing having means thereon for fluid tightengagement with the interior of a fluid container; and a second tubingsealed in fluid tight relationship with the first manifold connector forflow of fluid therefrom, the other end of said tubing being engageablewith an instrument to be used in the procedure, whereby fluid can flowin parallel from both the reservoir and the fluid container to theinstrument.